HOULTON, Maine — School nurses, much like those in hospitals, have had more than their fair share of work during these difficult COVID-19 times.
Gone are the days of simply treating students for the sniffles or nausea. Instead, school nurses are inundated with managing pool testing and trying to determine which students are close contacts of any students who do happen to test positive both in the classroom and on school buses, while still juggling all of the normal maladies that come along.
For the most part, it is a thankless job that often goes unrecognized. But not always.
The Maine School Board Association recognized RSU 29 Director of Health Services Holly Hodgkin with its 2021 MSBA Distinguished Service Award. Hodgkins was presented with the award during a Monday, Dec. 6, school board meeting.
“I am very pleased this evening to recognize one of our staff members,” board chairman Fred Grant said. “To say that the last year-and-a-half has been a challenge is a massive understatement. Regardless of your feelings of the pandemic and how things are happening, we know there is a segment of our staff that has put in hundreds of hours to move the school forward and to provide for the safety of our students to keep our schools open.”
In the letter of recognition, the MSBA group expressed its appreciation to Hodgkin and her staff for their work managing COVID-19 in the school district.
“Operating schools during this time, at best, has been a challenge,” the letter said. “However, knowing you are there providing steady guidance during phone calls with contract tracing and parent and student reassurances allows schools in Maine to operate at a very high level during this pandemic.”
“I was surprised and flattered to be recognized for my work as the director of Health Services,” Hodgkins said.
